Concerted Action for Offshore Wind Deployment
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1. Introduction to COD
Welcome
to the COD project. Concerted Action for Offshore Wind Energy Deployment (COD)
is a co-operation of energy agencies, energy departments and key actors. The
aim of the project is very simple: to
accelerate the deployment of offshore wind energy within the European Community
by streamlining legislation, consenting procedures; environmental impact
assessment and grid integration. One of
the primary tasks within the project is information exchange between the
national energy agencies of most sea – bordering member states in the EC. COD
exchanges information between the national energy agencies or delegated third
parties from Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland,
Sweden and the United Kingdom. This represents 90% of the offshore wind energy
potential within the EU.
COD also
interacts with key actors through an Advisory Board and all COD activities are
steered by a Ministerial Working Group with representatives from energy departments
of the related countries. Energy
Agencies from other member states can join COD as observers.
The project began in 2003 and is now ready to
publicise its findings and results. It was decided to launch a series of
newsletters with a view to informing and updating those involved with offshore
wind energy on activities within COD. The first issue of the newsletter is
concerned with environmental issues where offshore wind farms are concerned. In
the coming months future editions of the newsletter will cover Grid
integration; legislation/consents; and the overall results of COD. For more
information: visit our website
or contact Ruud de
Bruijne
2. Database environmental impact assessments and monitoring
COD provides a database that contains about 170 entries. The database covers a range of available publications concerned with methodologies, baseline studies, environmental impact assessment studies and monitoring reports. At present data from Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Sweden and United Kingdom has been included.
Information on ongoing research projects is
also made available through COD. The database gives an indication about the
current know-how concerning the interrelation between offshore wind farms, the
marine environment and human interests. All the information that has been
gathered is currently being analysed.
For example, one of the outcomes of the monitoring studies show that
where projects from Denmark are concerned no severe impacts from the
construction of wind farms were evident. This cannot be said yet for every
country involved in offshore but to date the Danish reports are the only
studies with data on real impacts. In most cases the severity of impacts is
related to the sensitivity of the chosen site.
At this early stage, most of the information
that is available focuses on methodologies and baseline studies. However, more
results from the real impacts from wind farms is becoming available.
You can download the database on Environmental
issues for offshore wind farms by logging onto the COD
website and clicking on ‘Database environmental
impact assessments and monitoring’. Information is available on the how to use
the database on the COD website should you have any difficulty accessing the
website. For each report or ongoing project you will find three forms on the
database:
I: general information (e.g. The institutions
involved, the title of the report, the year in which it was published and
abstract).
II: specification of the content (e.g. subject
of study, investigation methods used, impacts observed).
III: information on planning instruments and miscellaneous information.
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3. Overview (Offshorewind Energy) OWE’s environmental impact
COD
has made a report with an overview of the available information in the
database. This report presents statistics and an analysis of the environmental
impact studies in the COD database. It provides a first overview of the impacts
offshore wind farms have on the environment. At this early stage of
development, most of the available information in the database is on
methodologies and baseline studies. Naturally, it is therefore too early to
draw conclusions. There is for example ongoing research on windfarms in the
United Kingdom, Denmark and The Netherlands and COD aims to follow up on this
research. Download the Overview
of Environmental Impacts Offshore Wind energy
COD’s
aim is to cover all available reports on environmental issues. If there are any
relevant reports or projects that we may have omitted, please let us know and
we include them as soon as possible. Please contact the COD working group
member of your country by logging onto the contact list on the COD website
New Guidelines for Offshore Wind
COD is now drafting offshore wind guidelines, which are effectively the
conclusions of the first COD project. They will incorporate information
and lessons learned from the COD activities. The guidelines will take the
form of a statement of consensus on present understanding, actions to promote
the further uptake of offshore wind, and guidance for ascertaining and
developing good practice at the European level. Any parties wishing to
comment on draft guidelines are welcome to contact: Helen Snodin at Garrad Hassan.
5. What’s next on the Agenda
Presentation
COD’s intermediate results on grid integration: At the Fifth International Workshop on Large-Scale Integration of
Wind Power and Transmission Networks for Offshore Wind Farms, 7-8 April 2005 in
Glasgow, Scotland.
Presentation
COD intermediate results: 19-20 April Offshore wind 2005, BWEA London
Presentation
COD final results: 26-28 October Copenhagen
Offshore Wind Energy conference October
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COD Newsletter is an email bulletin prepared by:
SWS Group
Shinagh House
Bandon
Co. Cork
Tel: +3532341271
Website: http://www.capitacustomersolutions.ie/
COD
is funded by the EC under FP6, SWS Group is partner in this project.
To subscribe
to this free newsletter please email Ann
McCarthy with ‘subscribe ’ in the subject field.
If however,
you do not want to receive the newsletter please send an e-mail with
‘unsubscribe’ in the subject field to the same address
Disclaimer
Neither
the Consortium of the Concerted Action for Offshore Wind Energy Deployment
(COD), nor any person acting on its behalf:
makes any warranty or representation, express or implied with respect to the
information contained in this database,
assumes any liability with respect to the use of, or damages resulting from
this information.
Ann McCarthy 2005